Weapons of Macbeth

"The Scottish Play"

by

Rick Pazziol, Weapons of Choice

Those with a superstitious bent might refer to Macbeth that way, but by
whatever name, it is always a powerful experience for an audience. Naturally, it
has a special place in our hearts because of the number of shows we outfit each
year. Interestingly, we only send broadswords to about half of the productions,
since this is one of those wonderful shows that respond so well to different
settings. We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the different weapons which
we have sent out in order to match some very imaginative recent productions.

The most common request is for "period" swords, although that
usually requires a few follow up questions. Macbeth's period (1040-1057 AD) is,
of course, much different from Shakespeare's, (who never worried about
historical accuracy) and well researched productions set in this period use a mix of Scottish and Viking single hand edged weapons, with short spears doing the brunt of the fighting.

Always a delight to perform and watch is the Caribbean Macbeth, with voodoo
priestesses instead of witches from the heath, and the ghost of Banquo is of
course a true Zombie. Buccaneers and privateers involved in intrigue with petty
local governor/mayors, and a blend of swashbuckling cutlasses and rapiers.

The most challenging for us are the post-Apocalyptic styles. Each will have
it's own spin on what might be acquired after the big one drops (mostly found
objects turned into bashing implements) or after society simply implodes on its
own (a mix of weapons: low-tech, high-tech, and futuristic). Bag-ladies with
shopping carts as witches? Shown are some fantasy weapons which we have created
to fit different productions.

Our favorite? Not done often enough is the Victorian/Edwardian setting. All
of those great drawing room suits and smoking jackets, fabulous gowns and
jewelry, doughboy uniforms and WWI-style rifles for the soldiers, pistols and
dress sabres for the officers. The use of the gothic and morbid themes in art
and literature, the toying with spiritualism so prevalent among the upper class
can add a seance feel to all of the witches' scenes.

A unique spin to the above was to set the play in the Empire/Napoleonic
style of Europe. The witches were a band of Gypsies. Flintlock muskets to outfit
an army attacking Dunsinane, and curved sabres for the final two fights.

Speaking of curved blades the "Shogun Macbeth" is a very powerful
approach to the text. The Noh style movement merely adds to the grandeur of
power and the depths of despair, and makes the fantastical elements of the
script more, not less, plausible.

Fantastical witches can be at once awe inspiring and repulsive; geisha witches both beautiful and terrifying. Assassins could be ninjas or peasants.

[Spear, 2 kwaiken, tanto, 2 katana]

Modern dress productions now seem to take their cue from television news
coverage of Bosnia (Cuba used to be the model). Battle fatigues and business
suits meet the shattered refugees of war on the heath, who slip a hallucinogenic
brew to help Macbeth "see" the future.

No matter how it is performed, we always feel sorry for our poor Macbeth,
who by all contemporary accounts succeeded to the throne by accepted and legal
means. He ruled wisely and well, led his country through 17 years of prosperity,
and then was overthrown by a usurper, who allowed the English to dominate the
Scots by influence within the court, which they never would have been able to do
by force of arms alone. By the way, uttering "Macbeth" has always
seemed to bring us good luck, with no major injuries, and considering that the
title character has two demanding fights at the end of two and a half
emotionally exhausting hours, that's no small tribute!

Macbeth Timeline:

1040 Macbeth kills Duncan; named king of Scotland by legal vote of
thanes

1042 Edward the Confessor becomes king of England

1054 Macbeth defeated by Malcolm and Siward at Dunsinane

1057 Macbeth is murdered by Malcolm, but Macbeth's stepson Lulach is voted
by thanes as king of Scotland

1058 Malcolm murders Lulach and becomes king of Scotland; all thanes
re-titled as earls, no longer have any vote in rights of succession

* * * * *

Weapons of Choice provides fight-worthy and costume weapons for rent and
sales to the theatrical community nation-wide. We cover the weapons needs for
over 1,000 shows each year. The grips on many of our swords are unit-cast
plastic for maximum durability. All steel welds are guaranteed for the life of
the weapon, but blades are not.

Our swords are designed for stage use, not Renaissance Fairs nor for the SCA. Our swords are light, tough, flexible, durable and affordable, but to do all of that we must use modern materials, construction and design not permitted by recreationists. Do you have our latest catalogue? It's free! Call today and let us help you. (707) 226-2845